Abandoned Shores ~ Available Now

 Abandoned Shores by C.J. Milacci is now available!

This book is a campanion book to the Talionis series.

About the Book:

In a world shattered by chaos and divided by the brutal reign of the Raiders, one woman longs to break free from the shackles of her family’s legacy. Born into darkness and raised to become heir to the ruthless Raiders, Princess Catori yearns for a life beyond the violence and oppression that defines her existence. When she meets Micah, a riverboat captain with an unwavering sense of justice, she sees a glimmer of hope for a different future. But her grandfather, founder of the Raiders, has a plan for Catori’s life that he refuses to relinquish. He’ll stop at nothing to see her become all he has prepared her to be, whether she wants that existence or not. Will Catori and Micah ever escape to the safety of the new life they long for, or is Catori destined to become something she despises? In this gripping companion novel set in the world of the Talionis Series, readers will be transported on a thrilling journey with Catori and her companions. Filled with action, suspense, and romance, Abandoned Shores is a story of survival, hope, and the power of love in the face of adversity. Available to purchase at Amazon.

Eat Dessert First ~ Review

Elise's Home Kitchen: Eat Dessert First

By Elise Thomas

With a title of Eat Dessert First, one tends to think this is a cookbook devoted to sweet treats. But with more than 150 recipes less than half are desserts. As someone who is partial to desserts I was more than happy to give this cookbook by Elise Thomas a try, or as Yoda says do or do not, there is no try. Yes, you could get this book just to look at all the lovely pictures, but you won't get as much enjoyment out of it if all you do is look.

There is a delightful assortment of recipes. I have not attempted them all yet. As a Vegetarian I was more than pleased at how easy it would be to switch out vegetarian substitutes for some of the ingredients. Anyone who doesn't have dietary restrictions will love working their way through this cookbook. And there are a lot of pictures which I feel are necessary to have a really good cookbook. I love pictures so that I have a idea of what I'm attempting to create. 

I highly recommend this book if you want something new to serve. Add a new twist to an old favorite and prepare to enjoy the taste and the compliments. But a word of warning this book will make you hungry! Don't open on an empty stomach!

I was provided a complimentary copy of this book with no expectations but that I provide my honest opinion. All thoughts expressed are my own.                                                                                                                                                        

About the Book:

The founder of a successful chain of bakeries shares more 

than 150 no-fuss recipes for delicious go-to family dinners and desserts.

In 2020, when the world was hit with a pandemic, Elise Thomas used her own small kitchen oven to begin baking her signature gourmet cookies. Selling them first out of her garage, her business quickly skyrocketed into a successful chain of bakeries--Cookie Co.--and earned her the nickname "the cookie lady."

Now, in her debut cookbook, Elise shares not only the delectable baked goods she is famous for but also the fast, easy, and delicious meals that have become staples for her own busy family. Recipes are broken into sections based on cravings: Burgers, Sandwiches and Tacos, Pasta, Soups, Salads, Side Dishes, Appetizers and Dips, Breads, Cookies, Cakes and Pies, Desserts and Treats, Breakfast and Brunch.

Whether you're looking for savory dinners like Bacon-wrapped Guacamole Chicken or Beef and Biscuit Pot Pie, or something sweeter like French Toast Rollups or Oreo-Stuffed Peanut Butter Cookies, Elise's recipes are both simple and flavorful and focus on ingredients most people already have in their pantry. Alongside full-color original photography of each dish are the culinary tips and tricks Elise has learned over the years, a suggested pantry list, and notes about which dishes her kids love most, which can help take the guesswork out of what's for dinner or dessert.

The British Booksellers ~ Review

The British Booksellers

By Kristy Cambron

The British Booksellers is a split-time book that takes the reader between the two world wars, that reshaped the world and England and the lives of Amos Darby and Charlotte Terrington Holt. From his earliest memories of Charlotte, Amos has always cared for her more than a tenant should for the daughter of an earl. They are bound together by their love of books and a secret dream to own and run a bookstore.

But time, war, and social standing have a way of destroying hopes and dreams. Instead, Amos returns from war broken both in body and spirit, and Charlotte is a war widow with a daughter. And they become competing booksellers in Coventry. Time, in this case, doesn't heal all wounds. And the Great War, which was the war to end all wars, was a false hope because war has come again. And it has come to Britain, attacking in the night, bringing destruction in its wake, igniting old nightmares, and drawing in a new generation. 

This was an excellent read. One was drawn to Amos and his hopes and dreams. Dreams he knew better than to have, but the heart doesn't pay heed to the head. I like how we are slowly introduced to both chapters of Amos's life and how his childhood friendship with Charlotte changed over time. I also found the contrast between Charlotte and her daughter, Eden, to be interesting. The different ways they look at situations and handle them add some insight into their characters. Even more interesting is how the people of Coventry view Amos after his return from war. And then we have the mystery of why Jacob Colt has come to Coventry from America during a war. I love it when there is a bit of a mystery involved and this book definitely offers this with the back-and-forth between the two wars. Add in a double dose of romance, and you have the perfect weekend read.

I was provided a complimentary copy of this book with no expectations but that I provide my honest opinion. All thoughts expressed are my own.

About the Book:

Inspired by real accounts of the Forgotten Blitz bombings, 

The British Booksellers highlights the courage of those 

whose lives were forever changed by war—and the stories 

that bind us in the fight for what matters most.

 

A tenant farmer’s son had no business daring to dream of a future with an earl’s daughter, but that couldn’t keep Amos Darby from his secret friendship with Charlotte Terrington…until the reality of the Great War sobered youthful dreams. Now, decades later, he bears the brutal scars of battles fought in the trenches and their futures that were stolen away. His return home doesn’t come with tender reunions, but with the hollow fulfillment of opening a bookshop on his own and retreating as a recluse within its walls.

 

When the future Earl of Harcourt chose Charlotte to be his wife, she knew she was destined for a loveless match. Though her heart had chosen another long ago, she pledges her future even as her husband goes to war. Twenty-five years later, Charlotte remains a war widow who divides her days between her late husband’s declining estate and operating a quaint Coventry bookshop—Eden Books, lovingly named after her grown daughter. And Amos is nothing more than the rival bookseller across the lane.

As war with Hitler looms, Eden is determined to preserve her father’s legacy. So when an American solicitor arrives threatening a lawsuit that could destroy everything they’ve worked so hard to preserve, mother and daughter prepare to fight back. But with devastation wrought by the Luftwaffe’s local blitz terrorizing the skies, battling bookshops—and lost loves, Amos and Charlotte—must put aside their differences and fight together to help Coventry survive.

 

From deep in the trenches of the Great War to the storied English countryside and the devastating Coventry Blitz of World War II, The British Booksellers explores the unbreakable bonds that unite us through love, loss, and the enduring solace that can be found between the pages of a book.

 

AUTHOR BIO

 

Kristy Cambron is an award-winning author of historical fiction, including her bestselling debut The Butterfly and the Violin, and an author of nonfiction, including the Verse Mapping Series Bibles and Bible studies. Kristy's work has been named to Publishers Weekly Religion & Spirituality TOP 10, Library Journal Reviews’ Best Books, RT Reviewers’ Choice Awards, received 2015 & 2017 INSPY Award nominations, and has been featured at CBN, Lifeway Women, Jesus Calling, Country Woman Magazine, MICI Magazine, Faithwire, Declare, (in)Courage, and Bible Gateway. 

She holds a degree in Art History/Research Writing and lives in Indiana with her husband and three sons, where she can probably be bribed with a peppermint mocha latte and a good read. You can connect with her at: kristycambron.com and versemapping.com.

 

Flat Deception ~ Review

Flat Deception

Roxbury Heirs #2

By Paige Edwards

All Lady Sophie Henderson has ever wanted is to raise and race her horses. She longs to make a name for herself as a woman in a predominantly male-dominated field. She is not out to make a stir; rather, she just wants to use her knowledge and skills working with the animals she loves. But when her father receives unexpected news about financial difficulties, Sophie's funds are cut. 

Zander Matthews has long been in love with Sophie, and he knows when he delivers the bad news about the Roxbury Estates finances that Sophie's dream will be the first to be cut when it comes to trimming costs. What he never expected was Sophie's anger and avoidance of him. He wants to help her achieve her dream but Sophie's much like Mr. Darcy when it comes to people losing her good opinion. And she's determined to handle it all on her own, even if she has to sell treasured items to do so. 

As shadows of doubt loom over Sophie and her horses, the situation escalates from bad to worse. Who is behind the attempts to shatter her hopes, dreams, and years of hard work? And who has decided that she needs to be eliminated? In this hour of need, who can she trust?

This is an exciting and fast-moving story that draws the reader into the costly world of thoroughbred racing. When funds are short, what will a desperate person do to keep up appearances and stay in the world they know? There is a definite who-dun-it in this book, and the author does a superb job of keeping the identity a secret. There was just one instance when I wondered, "Is it?"

I was provided a complimentary copy of this book with no expectations but that I provide my honest opinion. All thoughts expressed are my own.

About the Book:

Lady Sophie Henderson has worked tirelessly to establish a breeding stable for racehorses on her family’s Scottish estate. But when her father cuts her funding, she’s desperate to find a way to achieve her life’s ambition. Selling precious heirloom jewels enables Sophie to care for her thoroughbreds, though it’s a temporary solution—and one that does not go unnoticed.

Zander Matthews is painfully aware of the role he played in Sophie’s loss of sponsorship. Now, he’s determined to use his hard-earned wealth to help her achieve her dreams. When Zander shocks Sophie with the offer of a business investment, it seems her aspirations are finally within reach. But the new partners discover that finding success will not be simple. There is a dark side to the posh British racing community, and Sophie and Zander have captured the attention of an enemy whose greed knows no bounds. Even as their partnership develops into something more, their happy ending is just beyond reach. Because in a world where people are willing to do anything to win, it’s impossible to know who to trust.

Lethal Danger ~ Review

Lethal Danger

Guardians Unleashed #4

By Jerusha Agen

Someone is targeting the fair Jazz Lamont loves, and she'll do everything she can to stop them. The Tri-City Fair has been an important part of her life for the majority of it, a place she can call home.  And someone is determined to destroy it and the people who frequent it.

As part of the additional security, Phoenix K-9 Security and Detection Agency is trained to stop and eliminate the threats that are threatening this year's fair. When an accident causes a visitor to panic, Jazz and security guard Hawthorne Emerson jump into action to save the visitor's life. Later Jazz is surprised and thrilled to learn that the guard who assisted with rescue is none other than her favorite author! Of course she crushes!

But Hawthorne is dealing with his own demons from the past, which seemingly have links to the accidents and threats surrounding the fair. 

Before everything wraps up, both Jazz and Hawthorne will have to put aside their pasts and the influence it has on their present. If they don't, they may not live to see tomorrow.

This is the fourth book in the series and it certainly doesn't disappoint. It is a contemporary Romantic Suspense read, but at its heart it is a story of family, friendship, trust, and letting go of the past. Both Jazz and Hawthorne struggle with "family" and "friendship". They've allowed the past to keep both at arm's length and added 5 more feet just to be safe. And they've blinded themselves to the fact that some of their pain is their own doing. 

This is wonderful blend of suspense and human nature that presents in a completely satisfying read. Not to be missed. Though part of a series one can enjoy this book as a standalone title.

I was provided a complimentary copy of this book with no expectations but that I provide my honest opinion. All thoughts expressed are my own.

 

About the Books:          

This K-9 team is trained to eliminate threats. 

This threat could eliminate them.

Being a loner is getting old. Jazz Lamont still can’t fit in at the Phoenix K-9 Agency, and she’s losing her best friend. At least providing security with her K-9 partner at the Tri-City Fair will mean revisiting the only place where she once belonged. But a series of accidents threatens her beloved fair and puts lives at risk.

Thriller author Hawthorne Emerson suspects foul play after the first “accident.” Moonlighting as fair security to investigate the death of his sister’s boyfriend, he’s eager to find the truth. He doesn’t expect the task to lead him to the cult he escaped.

Finding the culprit behind the sabotage is personal for Jazz and Hawthorne. But someone else has a personal stake, too. Someone who wants Jazz dead. When everything she thought was true is dismantled, can Jazz risk trusting others—including God—to survive?


Lethal Danger continues the thrilling story of the elite Phoenix K-9 Security and Detection Agency that began with Hidden Danger (Guardians Unleashed, #1). (Each book can stand alone or be read as a series of installments.)                                                        

The Lady with the Dark Hair ~ Review

The Lady with the Dark Hair

By Erin Bartels

This is a split-time book that follows Esther Markstrom, who lives in the present day, and Viviana Torrens, who called the later half of the 19th-century home. Ester's life has been dictated by her mother's artistic tendencies and their familial ties to Francisco Vella, a minor painter during the Impressionist Era. 

Vella is a bit of a mystery, with not much known about his work other than the collection of works shown at the museum run by Esther's family. But we, as readers get to see Vella and his "relationship" with Viviana. Viviana can no longer return to her home. She is an orphan who, through a series of events, finds herself seeking refuge and escape. We get to experience Viviana's journey as she discovers herself and the world through the eyes of an artist. 

Both these timelines are brought together as Esther begins a journey for answers, thanks to questions raised by her former professor. Who painted The Lady with the Dark Hair? Was it her ancestor as her family has long believed? Or was it another? But this journey will do more than answer questions about the past. It will help Esther discover truths about herself that she's never had the luxury to explore.

I love duel timelines and the way the story unfolds, revealing bits and pieces of the mystery. And there are so many facets that draw one attention to the world of art. I found the process of making paint in the late 1800s fascinating. I have to be honest, I had never before given any thought as to where paint came from. In my limited experience, it comes from a tube or a small pot. Overall, I would say, this was a good read. There's a mystery and a touch of romance, but nothing to keep you up all night. If you want a book you can read leisurely without the tension that suspense causes, you will love this book. 

I was provided a complementary copy of this book with no expectations but that I provide my honest opinion. All thoughts expressed are my own.                                                                                                                                                                       

About the Book:

Esther Markstrom and her artist mother have always been proud of their ancestor, painter Francisco Vella. They even run a small museum and gallery dedicated to raising awareness of his scandalously underappreciated work. But when Esther reconnects with her former art history professor, she finds her once-solid family history on shaky ground as questions arise about Vella's greatest work--a portrait entitled The Lady with the Dark Hair.

In 1879, Catalan orphan-turned-fugitive Viviana Torrens has found sanctuary serving in the home of an aging artist in Southern France. It is in his studio that she meets Francisco Vella, a Gibraltarian merchant who sells artists' pigments. When her past catches up to her, she is compelled to pose as Vella's sister and join him on his travels or be deported back to Spain to stand trial. Along the way she will discover that the many parts she has been playing in order to hide her identity have far-reaching implications she never could have foreseen.

This dual-timeline story from award-winning author Erin Bartels takes readers from the sleepy Midwest to the sultry Mediterranean on a relentless search for truth, identity, and the freedom to follow one's dreams.

Labyrinth of Lies and Sacrifice ~ Now Available

 Labyrinth of Lies and Sacrifice by C.F.E. Black is now available! This is the sixth and final book in the Sacrificed Hearts series,

Sacrificed Hearts Series Blurb: 

Monsters, Maidens, and Mayhem

Sparks fly and hearts are tested in this collection of short novels about girls who rise to the occasion to overcome the difficult circumstances thrust upon them.

A village maiden sacrificed to a dragon in a tale as old as myth.

A seafaring princess who must sacrifice her heart or lose her kingdom to a kraken.

A princess-in-hiding forced to save a masked man who is more than he seems.

A defiant peasant marked for death determined to outmaneuver a man branded a monster. 

An undercover assassin sent to assassinate a phoenix or die trying.

An unlucky bride-to-be sacrificed to a labyrinth and the madness within. 

 

These fantasy romance tales inspired by monsters of legend provide a sweet and swoony take on the Sacrificed to the Monster trope. Experience the magic today in the Sacrificed Hearts series, a collection of stand-alone short novels packed with enchanting romance, strong heroines, and sacrificial themes.

About Labyrinth of Lies and Sacrifice:

All Vera wants is to survive her wedding day without disaster striking, no easy task for a quarter-mage like Vera. But all her hopes fade when a stranger traps Vera, claiming she’s dangerous. The day gets worse when she is shoved inside the Labyrinth, an enchanted prison for the worst of criminals.

In this place, madness reigns. The monsters—both real and imagined—are all ruled by a terrible force that feeds on fear. Vera must keep her wits about her as she navigates this deadly place, searching for a way out.

When she meets another mortal trapped within, she doesn’t know if she can trust him. But as their paths continue to cross, it seems as if the maze is forcing them to work together. Can they help each other defeat the monsters and survive in this nightmare world? But in the Labyrinth, nothing is as it seems.

Sacrificed Hearts website: https://everlyhaywood.com/sacrificedhearts/

Order Labyrinth of Lies and Sacrifice at: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0CRP5TBY5